Chapter 692: The Underdog's Fight
On the evening of March 12th, local UK time, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium hosted the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, where Manchester United faced Schalke 04.
Having lost the first leg at home 2–3, Schalke 04 found themselves in a dire situation. To progress, they had no choice but to beat United on their turf.
Last season, coach Domenico Tedesco led Schalke 04 to a miraculous campaign. But this season, the club had suffered five straight losses at the start of the Bundesliga and was teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.
With 25 matches played, Schalke sat in 14th place with only 23 points, just 4 points clear of relegation. Pressure to avoid the drop loomed large.
Rumors about Tedesco's imminent sacking had been swirling in the German media for weeks. The only thing keeping him in the manager's chair was Schalke's decent run in the Champions League, having made it to the knockout stages.
For Tedesco, the Champions League was a lifeline. If Schalke were eliminated by Manchester United, the hero of last season might find himself out of a job.
Desperation was evident from the start, as Schalke launched an all-out assault on United, hoping to score quickly and level the aggregate score.
Breel Embolo was positioned at the forefront, supported by Konoplyanka, Bentaleb, and Burgstaller, with McKennie and Serdar anchoring the midfield.
This setup emphasized Embolo's ability to drop deep and organize, paired with the rapid forward runs of his teammates.
...
Manchester United, well aware of Schalke's precarious situation, had prepared thoroughly for the match. Mourinho even anticipated Schalke's early onslaught.
Thus, when Schalke aggressively pressed forward at kickoff, United focused on defending.
For this match, Mourinho deployed a midfield duo of Gundogan and Kante, with Bruno operating as the playmaker. The attacking trio consisted of Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Mahrez.
Gundogan and Kante lived up to Mourinho's expectations, thwarting Schalke's offensive attempts from the outset. Schalke struggled to breach United's defense and resorted to long-range efforts.
In the first ten minutes, Schalke managed three or four shots from distance, courtesy of Serdar, Embolo, and Bentaleb, but none of them were on target.
Bentaleb's eighth-minute effort even sailed directly into the stands, prompting collective groans from Schalke fans.
Having weathered Schalke's initial storm, United began to steady themselves and plot counterattacks.
Despite holding a strong advantage after their first-leg victory, United weren't about to let their home crowd down.
Especially after suffering their first Premier League loss in 69 games to Arsenal just three days earlier, a second consecutive defeat across all competitions was a scenario Mourinho and his squad, along with their global fanbase, were desperate to avoid.
...
From the first whistle, Schalke's players launched relentless attacks, creating several dangerous chances. United's goalkeeper, David De Gea, quickly became the busiest man on the pitch.
Although United's defensive midfield trio of Gundogan, Kante, and Bruno held their ground, Schalke's pressure gave the impression of an unsteady United backline.
One particularly tense moment came when Schalke's Konoplyanka sent a cross into the box, forcing De Gea to leap out and snatch the ball mid-air, just ahead of Bentaleb.
With no time to think, De Gea booted the ball upfield, aiming for Mbappe on the left. But Mbappe, still in his own half, couldn't catch up, and the ball rolled out of bounds, gifting Schalke a throw-in.
It was an unforced error from De Gea, though it didn't lead to a goal. Raising his hand apologetically, De Gea signaled his regret to his teammates.
Bruno, ever the captain, clapped his hands emphatically, urging the team to remain focused.
"If we hold out for a bit longer, we'll be fine!" Bruno called out.
United's players knew this was coming. Mourinho had warned them that Schalke would likely press hard early on. This pressure could last 10, 15, or even 20 minutes.
On the touchline, Tedesco, ever animated, clapped enthusiastically after De Gea's misstep. "That's it! Keep up the pressure!" he shouted.
...
Tedesco walked back to the visitor's bench, confident in his plan to disrupt United's rhythm.
Cardiff's Millennium Stadium had become one of Europe's most intimidating venues in recent years, with no team managing to defeat United there. Despite the change from Old Trafford, the aura of the "Devil's Fortress" had remained intact.
If Schalke wanted to pull off a miracle and overturn the aggregate score, they couldn't afford to let United dictate the tempo.
"Mourinho clearly anticipated our high press," noted assistant coach Peter Perchtold, flipping through his notebook. "Their midfield—Gundogan, Kante, and Bruno—is incredibly strong. It's easily one of Europe's best setups."
Tedesco nodded in agreement, recognizing the challenge.
"So we'll exploit the flanks and then switch back to the center," Tedesco suggested.
"Exactly," Perchtold affirmed.
Turning to his other assistant, Joseph Eichkorn, Tedesco asked, "We're nearly ten minutes in. How much longer can we sustain this pace?"
"I think we can push for another five, maybe even ten minutes," Eichkorn replied confidently.
Manchester United and Schalke 04: Similar Struggles
Both Manchester United and Schalke 04 entered this match following grueling defeats just three days earlier. United had visited the Emirates to face Arsenal, suffering a 0–2 loss that ended their 69-game unbeaten streak. Schalke, meanwhile, endured a 2–4 thrashing away at Werder Bremen, leaving them precariously positioned with just 23 points from 25 Bundesliga games—perilously close to the relegation zone.
For Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco, the stakes couldn't be higher. German media had made it clear: if Schalke failed to beat Manchester United tonight and secure a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals, this match would likely be his last as the club's manager.
Tedesco nodded silently as he turned his attention back to the pitch.
In his pre-match tactical plan, Tedesco identified United's most dangerous threats: Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes.
Harry Kane, captain and primary striker for the English national team, is one of the best finishers in world football. Adding to his menace, Kane is remarkably agile for his stature, boasts excellent technical skills, and has grown increasingly influential in linking up play. His understanding with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Kylian Mbappe has become razor-sharp.
Bruno Fernandes, on the other hand, needs no introduction. Widely regarded as the best player in the world, Bruno has ushered in a new era in football, dethroning the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly. As Manchester United's most lethal attacking weapon, Bruno is a masterful all-rounder who can operate in any attacking role and create scoring opportunities from seemingly impossible angles.
Although Tedesco had publicly claimed he wasn't designing specific defensive strategies to target Bruno, everyone knew better. How could Schalke hope to contain United's attack without neutralizing Bruno Fernandes?
Tedesco's primary tools to combat Bruno were the midfield trio of Weston McKennie, Suat Serdar, and Nabil Bentaleb—all tasked with limiting Bruno's influence.
From the opening whistle, Schalke's midfield trio worked well, effectively closing down space and keeping Bruno in check.
"Keep this up, and we can at least leave here with a draw!" Tedesco exclaimed with confidence.
...
United were pinned in their half, and the match seemed frustratingly one-sided. Bruno Fernandes had to drop deep to support his teammates, often helping out defensively.
In one defensive sequence, Schalke's Guido Burgstaller lost possession. Bruno was quick to react, sprinting forward to intercept the ball. Evading Burgstaller's attempts to regain possession, Bruno carried the ball toward the center.
McKennie, close by, immediately closed him down.
For more than six years, Bruno had rigorously trained in high-pressure scenarios, replicating the chaos of defenders converging on him. As McKennie approached, Bruno pivoted sharply and continued cutting inward, slipping past the Schalke midfielder with apparent ease.
Having bypassed two defenders, Bruno suddenly shifted direction, driving toward Schalke's goal.
However, Schalke's Suat Serdar, center-back Benjamin Stambouli, and a recovering McKennie quickly converged, surrounding him on all sides.
Caught in the middle, Bruno scanned for options and found one. Without hesitation, he released the ball to the left flank. Unfortunately, Harry Kane didn't anticipate Bruno's pass and failed to move wide in time. Schalke's Jonjoe van den Hoorn quickly intercepted, booting the ball clear.
While the attack failed to generate a scoring opportunity, Bruno's display of dribbling skill and vision drew applause from the crowd. United fans in the stands showed their appreciation with thunderous cheers, fully recognizing the brilliance of their captain.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10